According to Brownell, “Johnson went directly to the Oval Office” and told Eisenhower “that the entire bill would be defeated on the Senate floor if section three . . . was included. He said he had the votes to do this. The president was convinced and agreed that this provision be dropped.” Brownell added, “Eisenhower made this decision without consulting me”—a damning comment from the chief field general for the civil rights bill.
